Pulled the mighty Bilsteins, and installed Edelbrock AIS.
With the stock springs and full profile 15" tires the Bilsteins at first seemed like a dream. Obviously a huge improvment over the tired gimpy stock spiral tube shocks. Felt like a go cart in the corners compared to stock. Harsh over sharp bumps yes, but on smooth or undulating road, nothing up till then had felt better. The car now had "Attitude".
Add what are basically HD F40 (not F41), springs and Ultra performance summer 17" tires with less profile, big bars front and back, poly panhard and the result is a buckboard ride that on anything less than smooth pavement is so harsh that you'll not want to drive your car on anything unknown. Try industrial Hamilton! One could only imagine the result of a full poly bushing treatment on the ride. The car already felt as if it was shaking apart. There was so little articulation in the tight corners, that the rear wheels felt ready to break loose. Now, understand, you could not push any corner of the car down more than an inch or so when parked. It must be said though, that the car could travel at high speed through any smooth highway sweeper with any modern car, but who drives their classic like that all the time. City or country streets are 90% of it's miles. The car simply did not handle very nice. So much so I actually was becoming tired of it.
Enter the Edelbock AIS. Very isolated on the smooth without the big crash over sharp bumps. About 50% less harsh. Corners way more planted as the suspension actually moves and follows the road like intended. Seat of the pants, simply more supple. Some frequencies on semi smooth don't damp out as good a a Bilstein to be sure, but overall the Edelbrocks are what the car, as configured like mine really needs. I felt the differnce as soon as the wheels crossed the driveway curb onto the street. Cranking into sharp turns and and applying full power is amazing! It leans over slightly, hooks and sticks without any drama. Unexpected also, it seems to now nosedive less on hard braking, and I'm now seriously debating the wisdom of having big stabilizer bars. I love it again!
Bottom line. A big full on autocross B might be able to make use of the mega monotube Bilsteins, but a street driven car with somewhat lower profile performance tires and HD springs never will. They will simply ruin the ride and handling, and negate the benefit of having good modern performance tires on your big classic.
Go with Edelbrock AIS over Bilsteins.
Hope this helps anyone thinking of either of these shocks.
Cheers, Mark
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
I have to tell you that my new car has 245/50/18 Bridgestones with magnetic shocks and the ride is Cadillac smooth when it needs to be and Trans Am tight when pushed. It is quite remarkable to experience the automatic adjustments as you drive, up to 1,000 times per second according to Cadillac litertaure. I believe Corvettes have this system as well.
Your car looks terrific by the way. I think the new big wheels are very nice.
I have to tell you that my new car has 245/50/18 Bridgestones with magnetic shocks and the ride is Cadillac smooth when it needs to be and Trans Am tight when pushed. It is quite remarkable to experience the automatic adjustments as you drive, up to 1,000 times per second according to Cadillac litertaure. I believe Corvettes have this system as well.
Your car looks terrific by the way. I think the new big wheels are very nice.
